On Monday, October 12, 2026, the Rockingham County School Board conducted a ground-breaking ceremony for our state-of-the-art, brand new building for Massanutten Technical Center. Here is a copy of the comments I shared: 

Thank you for being here to celebrate an exciting milestone for Rockingham County Public Schools and our community.

Groundbreakings represent more than a construction project. They represent a vision for the future and a commitment to investing in the next generation.

Today, we are breaking ground on a new building for Massanutten Technical Center, but the real investment is in our students, their opportunities, and the future of our workforce.

At Rockingham County Public Schools, our responsibility is to prepare students for their future—not simply to help them graduate, but to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed.

We believe every student should leave high school with a plan. We describe that vision as enrolled, enlisted, or employed: enrolled in further education, enlisted in military service, or employed in a career or trade.

There is no single path to success, and we want every student to have the opportunity to pursue the path that best fits their interests, strengths, and goals.

Career and Technical Education is an essential part of making that vision a reality.

Massanutten Technical Center gives students opportunities to explore careers, develop practical skills, earn industry-recognized credentials, and apply their learning in real-world settings. They gain hands-on experience, learn to solve problems, and develop the technical and professional skills employers value.

That is the educational impact of Career and Technical Education: it connects what students learn in the classroom to what they can accomplish beyond it.

These programs help students discover their strengths, build confidence, and see how their education connects to meaningful careers. And the impact extends beyond the individual student.

Our local businesses and industries need a skilled workforce. When we invest in technical education, we help prepare students to meet those needs while strengthening the economic future of our community.

Massanutten Technical Center has long played an important role in that work. This new building creates an opportunity to build on that success, expand possibilities, and prepare students for the careers of today and tomorrow.

Of course, a building alone does not create success. The true strength of Massanutten Technical Center lies in its students, its dedicated educators and staff, and its partnerships with local employers and our community. I want to thank everyone whose collaboration and commitment have brought us to this exciting milestone.

As we look toward the future, I hope we picture the students who will walk through these doors—the skills they will develop, the credentials they will earn, and the careers and lives they will build.

We are not just building a technical center. We are building opportunities, strengthening our workforce, and helping ensure that every student has a pathway to a successful future.

That is a vision worth investing in. Thank you, and congratulations to everyone who has helped make this day possible.